The use of Landsat imagery to assess large-scale forest cover changes in space and time,minimizing false-positive changes

A new approach, based on the application of multi-spectral remote sensing data of Landsat imagery, is introduced to determine large-scale spatiotemporal variations of forest cover changes quantitatively and with a high degree of precision. The test area covers about 837,330.5 ha of a mountainous region in Central Italy. The approach employs several multi-temporal Landsat acquisitions to account for forest cover changes larger than 0.5 ha for the period from March 2002 to July 2011. In contrast to automated approaches that strongly curtail mapping time, the approach introduced here allowed us to map only the real forest cover change, based on a robust validation and rectification of the detected forest change. Derived high spatial resolution data of forest change estimates indicate that about 5.7% (47,670.5 ha) of the observed forest area was subject to human-induced change between 2002 and 2011. Moreover, the detected forest cover changes, most of which are identifiable as timber harvesting, are considerably larger than those reported in the official statistics and often fall within the perimeter of restricted areas (i.e., national parks and natural reserves).     

Permafrost distribution modelling in the mountains of the Mediterranean: Corral del Veleta,Sierra Nevada,Spain

A statistical model for automated mapping of the spatial distribution of permafrost in the area of Corral del Veleta in south-east Spain (3703' N, 322' W; 3398 m a.s.l.) was developed and applied. The model uses a relationship between permafrost occurrence as indicated by BTS measurements, and variables such as altitude, solar radiation and summer snow cover. The model was implemented within a geographical information system (GIS) and determines the spatial distribution of probable permafrost in Corral del Veleta. Validation was achieved by comparing the predicted permafrost distribution with the results of recent fieldwork, such as geomorphic mapping, geophysical soundings and ground temperature logging.     

Improving the representation of major landforms in analytical relief shading

Relief shading is the most common type of cartographic relief representation for print and digital maps. Manual relief shading results in informative and visually pleasing representations of terrain, but it is time consuming and expensive to produce. Current analytical relief shading can be created quickly, but the resulting maps are not as aesthetically appealing and do not show landscape features in an explicit manner. This article introduces an automated digital method that produces shaded relief with locally adjusted illumination directions to simulate the techniques and cartographic principles of manual relief shading. Ridgelines and valley lines are derived from a digital terrain model, vectorized, and used in a diffusion curve algorithm. A graph analysis generalizes the lines before using them for diffusion curve shading. The direction of illumination is adjusted based on the spatial orientation of ridgelines and valley lines. The diffusion curve shading is combined with standard analytical relief shading to create a final diffusion relief shading image. Similar to manual relief shading, major landforms and the structure of the terrain are more clearly shown in the diffusion relief shading. The presented method best highlights major landforms in terrain characterized by sharp, clearly defined ridges and valleys.     

1988—2018年中国城市实体地域与行政地域用地扩张对比

城市边界是城市演化认知和城市规划决策的空间依据。中国不少研究实践将地级市等行政地域范围视为城市,与物理上主要由连续人造不透水面构成的城市实体地域相比,存在较大的空间边界差异。然而,鲜有研究定量分析“实体”视角下长时间序列的城市用地演化,特别是对实体和行政两种统计单元视角下的城市扩张差异缺乏系统认识。本文基于30 m空间分辨率的多源遥感产品识别了1988—2018年8期的城市实体地域边界,分析其用地扩张过程,进一步与行政地域相对比,系统识别了两种统计视角下城市用地扩张的认知差异和空间模式。主要结论为：① 1988—2018年间,中国面积5 km²以上的城市实体地域单元数量增长了378%,以华东和华中地区的增长最为显著;城市实体地域中,88%为独立增长型,分布广泛但面积大都小于50 km²;12%为空间聚合型,主要分布在发达地区,面积普遍较大。② 相比行政地域,城市实体地域的位序规模更符合幂律分布,其Zipf指数30年来逐渐上升趋向于1,城镇体系发展愈发均衡;相比城市实体地域,行政地域单元在平原地区的城市扩张面积普遍偏高,在沿海地区的城市扩张强度普遍偏低。③ 和城市实体地域单元在拓扑关系上无法一一匹配的1327个行政单元大多分布在人口密集或发达的平原地区;结合实体和行政边界识别了“跨政区同城化”和“政区内集群化”两种扩张模式,前者多发生在省会区域,后者主要分布在华北平原,两者反映了城市化的空间重构。本文研究结果有助于深化中国土地城镇化时空过程的认识,并可对土地资源的科学配置、统一协调及行政区划的优化整合提供空间依据。     

旅游社区多群体态度差异和冲突倾向的空间特征——以西安汤峪镇为例

随着乡村旅游的快速发展,乡村旅游社区逐步成为多群体竞争与冲突的场所,其内部多群体的态度差异成为指示社区冲突的重要指标。本文以西安汤峪镇为例,采用参与式制图（Participatory Mapping）和半结构访谈方法对当地居民、度假购房业主和游客3类群体的旅游开发态度和景观价值感知进行调查,最终获得315套访谈表与填图,共提取空间信息点5518个。基于对Brown等土地利用冲突倾向指标模型的修订,并结合地理空间分析方法探讨旅游社区态度差异和冲突倾向的空间特征。结论显示：① 旅游开发态度及其差异具有明显的地点指向性,并与景观价值的空间感知相关联。旅游开发冲突倾向空间上并非均匀分布,而是呈斑状格局,高值集中于社区旅游开发核心区域,且强度由开发的核心区域向外围区域减弱;② 潜在冲突地点的形成既有传统冲突因素的影响,又有特殊空间因素的作用,旅游开发要素的空间结构、多人群景观价值的空间感知、社区旅游发展阶段和相关人群的涉入程度都会影响冲突空间的形成;③ 参与式制图与深度访谈结合的方法能够帮助获得多人群主观数据,为认识态度和旅游开发冲突的空间特征提供了新的技术支撑。     

Geoinformational Mapping of Landscapes in the Northwestern Part of Western Siberia Using the Hansen Mosaic Dataset

Presented are the technique and results of studying the landscape structure of the north-west of Western Siberia on the basis of the Hansen mosaic dataset consisting of elements covering the entire territory of the Earth. To study this area used a synthesis of classical methods of thematic system mapping as described in the doctrine of geosystems of V. B. Sochava, and automated interpretation of remote sensing data and mapping using GIS technologies. The method of geoinformational mapping of the landscape structure with the use of MultiSpec and Quantum GIS software programs for the purpose of drawing up real-time raster landscape maps is shown. In drawing up the map and the legend, the principle of geomic system-hierarchical representation of the territory as a complex multi-level “bottom-up” structure from topological-level geosystems (groups and classes of landscape facies) to regional-level geosystems (geoms, groups and classes of geoms) was used. Compilation of operational raster landscape maps of the north-west of Western Siberia involved multilevel automated interpretation of the Hansen mosaic dataset and mapping of areas (clusters) on images with different brightness characteristics, with the landscape structure of key areas and stationary physical and geographical profiles. A characteristic of this approach also implies using a dynamic classification of geosystems based on the study of their variable states. Such an approach permits a monitoring of changes in landscape structure and its areas and the intensity of anthropogenic impacts on forest and marsh landscapes, and determination of permissible pressure on geosystems in areas with high technogenic pressure of the oil and gas complex represented by the north-west of Siberia. An automated processing of data based on a supervised classification of territorial objects allows for the elimination of inaccuracies arising in visual image interpretation. Raster landscape maps can be used both for a further generation of vector maps and as a real-time information base for purposes of environmental management and protection.     

西南地区冬季气候异常的时空变化特征及其影响因子

利用1961-2010 年的多种观测资料,对西南地区冬季气候异常的时空演变特征及其影响因子进行了分析。结果表明：西南地区冬季气温变化主要存在全区一致和东、西部反位相两种模态,这两种模态均存在显著的年代际变化。全区温度的一致变化与东亚冬季风的异常有关,东、西反位相的变化与西太平洋副热带高压和冷空气的异常活动有关。冬季降水异常主要表现为全区一致的变化特征。北半球环状模(NAM,AO) 和ENSO对西南地区气温没有显著的影响。当NAM偏强(弱) 时,西南地区降水偏多(少)。El Niño 年,西南地区降水一致偏多;La Niña 年,西南地区中部降水偏多,东、西部降水偏少。2010 年冬季西南地区的干旱更有可能是由NAM异常引起的,而不是El Niño。     

东北地区城市民生质量测度与空间分析

民生问题是当今中国政府和民众高度关注的热点问题,也是全面建成小康社会进程中需要迫切解决的关键科学问题。借鉴当代中国人的价值观结构,构建了民生质量评估指标体系,定量测度了东北地区34个地级市的民生质量指数,并采用ESDA和多元线性回归模型探讨其空间分异特征及其影响因素。研究结果表明：① 东北地区城市民生质量呈等级分布特征,且“两极分化”明显。② 经济实力、产业结构、城市化和地理邻近性对民生质量空间分异有重要影响。     

Sensitivity analysis of a decision tree classification to input data errors using a general Monte Carlo error sensitivity model

We analysed the sensitivity of a decision tree derived forest type mapping to simulated data errors in input digital elevation model (DEM), geology and remotely sensed (Landsat Thematic Mapper) variables. We used a stochastic Monte Carlo simulation model coupled with a one‐at‐a‐time approach. The DEM error was assumed to be spatially autocorrelated with its magnitude being a percentage of the elevation value. The error of categorical geology data was assumed to be positional and limited to boundary areas. The Landsat data error was assumed to be spatially random following a Gaussian distribution. Each layer was perturbed using its error model with increasing levels of error, and the effect on the forest type mapping was assessed. The results of the three sensitivity analyses were markedly different, with the classification being most sensitive to the DEM error, than to the Landsat data errors, but with only a limited sensitivity to the geology data error used. A linear increase in error resulted in non‐linear increases in effect for the DEM and Landsat errors, while it was linear for geology. As an example, a DEM error of as small as ±2% reduced the overall test accuracy by more than 2%. More importantly, the same uncertainty level has caused nearly 10% of the study area to change its initial class assignment at each perturbation, on average. A spatial assessment of the sensitivities indicates that most of the pixel changes occurred within those forest classes expected to be more sensitive to data error. In addition to characterising the effect of errors on forest type mapping using decision trees, this study has demonstrated the generality of employing Monte Carlo analysis for the sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of categorical outputs that have distinctive characteristics from that of numerical outputs.     

Automation and evaluation of graduated dot maps

Dot mapping is a traditional method for visualizing quantitative data, but current automated dot mapping techniques are limited. The most common automated method places dots pseudo-randomly within enumeration areas, which can result in overlapping dots and very dense dot clusters for areas with large values. These issues affect users’ ability to estimate values. Graduated dot maps use dots with different sizes that represent different values. With graduated dot maps the number of dots on a map is smaller, reducing the likelihood of overlapping dots. This research introduces an automated method of generating graduated dot maps that arranges dots with blue-noise patterns to avoid overlap and uses clustering algorithms to replace densely packed dots with those of larger sizes. A user study comparing graduated dot maps, pseudo-random dot maps, blue-noise dot maps and proportional circle maps with almost 300 participants was conducted. Results indicate that map users can more accurately extract values from graduated dot maps than from the other map types. This is likely due to the smaller number of dots per enumeration area in graduated dot maps. Map users also appear to prefer graduated dot maps over other map types.     

中国耕地利用集约度结构变化及其区域差异

Based on the data from the Cost-benefit Data of Farm Produce and the China Agricultural Yearbook, this paper divided the intensity of cultivated land use into labor intensity and capital intensity, and then analyzed their temporal and spatial change at both national and provincial levels between 1980 and 2006. The results showed that: (1) At the national level, labor intensity on food produce decreased from 398.5 day/ha in 1980 to 130.25 day/ha in 2006; and a continuous decrease with a steep decline between 1980 and 1986, a slower decline from 1987 to 1996, and another steep decline from 1997 to 2006. On the contrary, capital intensity shows an increasing trend since 1980. As to the internal composition of capital intensity, the proportion of seed, chemical fertilizer and pesticide input decreased from 90.36% to 73.44% and the proportion of machinery increased from 9.64% to 26.56%. The less emphasis on yield-increasing input and more emphasis on labor-saving input are the main reasons for a slow increase of yield per unit area after 1996. (2) At the provincial level, the developed areas have lower labor intensity and higher capital intensity. The less developed ones have higher labor intensity but lower capital intensity. From the viewpoint of the internal composition of capital intensity, labor-saving input accounts for more proportion in the developed areas than that of other areas. The main reason is that in these developed areas, labor input has become a constraint factor in food production as more and more labors engaged in off-farm work. Farmers increase the labor-saving input for higher labor productivity. However, in the less developed areas, the major constraint is the shortage of capital; food production is still depending on labor and yield-increasing inputs.     

Structural change of agricultural land use intensity and its regional disparity in China

Based on the data from the Cost-benefit Data of Farm Produce and the China Agricultural Yearbook, this paper divided the intensity of cultivated land use into labor intensity and capital intensity, and then analyzed their temporal and spatial change at both national and provincial levels between 1980 and 2006. The results showed that: (1) At the national level, labor intensity on food produce decreased from 398.5 day/ha in 1980 to 130.25 day/ha in 2006; and a continuous decrease with a steep decline between 1980 and 1986, a slower decline from 1987 to 1996, and another steep decline from 1997 to 2006. On the contrary, capital intensity shows an increasing trend since 1980. As to the internal composition of capital intensity, the proportion of seed, chemical fertilizer and pesticide input decreased from 90.36% to 73.44% and the proportion of machinery increased from 9.64% to 26.56%. The less emphasis on yield-increasing input and more emphasis on labor-saving input are the main reasons for a slow increase of yield per unit area after 1996. (2) At the provincial level, the developed areas have lower labor intensity and higher capital intensity. The less developed ones have higher labor intensity but lower capital intensity. From the viewpoint of the internal composition of capital intensity, labor-saving input accounts for more proportion in the developed areas than that of other areas. The main reason is that in these developed areas, labor input has become a constraint factor in food production as more and more labors engaged in off-farm work. Farmers increase the labor-saving input for higher labor productivity. However, in the less developed areas, the major constraint is the shortage of capital; food production is still depending on labor and yield-increasing inputs.     

Terrain Pattern Recognition and Spatial Decision Making for Regional Slope Stability Studies

A terrain partition scheme is presented that allows the identification of regions with high landslide risk in natural terrain zones on the basis of geomorphometric criteria from moderate resolution DEMs. The key factor being the terrain segmentation to aspect regions (regions formed by points preserving the same aspect direction) instead of using an artificial regular-grid terrain partition scheme. The study area is in western Greece (NW Peloponnesus) whereas a moderate resolution digital elevation model with spacing 75 m is used. Landslide inventory analysis and knowledge conceptualization identified that the landslide susceptibility of a particular aspect region is high, if the mean elevation is low and the mean gradient is high. Each aspect region was parametrically represented on the basis of its mean gradient and elevation. The domain of each parameter was divided to seven slices (classes) on the basis of the observed density. Subsequent knowledge based mapping identified aspect regions with high landslide susceptibility for the following spatial rule: (a) “mean slope in class 6 or 7” and (b) “mean elevation in class 1 to 5”. Alternatively the rule is expressed as mean slope to be equal or greater than 15^∘ whereas mean elevation to be in the range 0 to 750 m. These identified zones correspond to regions where historical landslides occurred (populated coastal areas in the North) as well as to south regions (natural terrain zone) where no landslide record is available, because of the limitations posed by the natural terrain landslide mapping program in Greece. The presented terrain segmentation technique combined to the spatial decision-making process, provided both an object framework for integrating geomorphometric parameters and a method for landslide risk analysis in natural terrain zones.     

Exploring spatiotemporal heterogeneity in online travel searches: a local spatial model approach

ABSTRACT

Online travel searches are important forms of travel virtual spaces. Previous studies have neglected to analyze the spatial features of the travel searches themselves, and the spatial heterogeneity of their influencing factors. In this study, a travel search index based on the Baidu index was established for analyzing travel searches. Meanwhile, a local spatial model was created for the linear features in order to discuss the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the influencing factors. The results of this study indicated that travel searches have obvious spatial inequality, and economically developed regions had displayed advantages in the travel search network. The fitting results of the local model were found to be superior to global model. The number of attractions and the GDP of the origin were found to have promoting effects on the travel searches, whereas distances had shown inhibiting effects. These effects presented significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity. It was also found that within the travel search virtual space, the distance effects still existed, but the intensity was weaker than in the real space. The local spatial model for the linear features provided a new spatial analysis method for understanding the travel search network, as well as other types of networks (flow patterns).     

Ontologies and representation spaces for sketch map interpretation

In this paper, we present a systematic approach to sketch map interpretation. The method decomposes the elements of a sketch map into a hierarchy of categories, from the material sketch map level to the non-material representational sketch map level, and then interprets the sketch map using the five formal representation spaces that we develop. These spaces (set, graph, metric and Euclidean) provide a tiered formal representation based on standard mathematical structures. We take the view that a sketch map bears information about the physical world and systematises this using extensions of existing formal ontologies. The motivation for this work is the partially automatic extraction and integration of information from sketch maps. We propose a set of ontologies and methods as a first step in the direction of a formalisation of partially automatic extraction and integration of sketch map content. We also see this work as a contribution to spatial cognition, where researchers externalise spatial knowledge using sketch mapping. The paper concludes by working through an example that demonstrates the sketch map interpretation at different levels using the underlying method.     

PAN graphs An aid to GIS analysis

Abstract

Many data structures are possible for the storage of topological information for computer-based maps. The PAN graph is here suggested as an aid in the selection of a strategy appropriate to the application. Examples are given for the mapping of triangular networks and Thiessen polygons. Application of the technique is appropriate to both education in, and design of, spatial data structures for automated cartography and geographical information systems     

黔东南州可持续发展的度量研究——基于BEF与TEF的综合测度

在生态足迹模型的基础上,将生态足迹划分为本底生态足迹和旅游生态足迹,构建了本地生态足迹模型,由饮食、住宿、交通、游乐、购物和废物6个子模块组成的旅游生态足迹模型,以区域可持续发展差量、区域可持续发展指数、区域生态效率指数为指标的可持续发展度量模型,综合评价区域可持续发展状态;以贵州省黔东南苗族侗族自治州为研究区域,进行了西部典型山区可持续发展的度量研究;研究结果表明。黔东南州2005年资源消耗以本地居民消耗为主,游客对生态足迹贡献率较小,旅游生态足迹约为89 660 hm2,仅为本底生态足迹的1/15,且以交通子模块贡献率最大;2 362.97美元/hm2的旅游生态效率指数远高于457.58美元/hm2的非旅游生态效率指数,亦高于1 106美元/hm2的全球生态效率指数;生态承载力供给盈余约为859 859 hm2,区域可持续发展指数为0.61,全州处于"良"的可持续发展状态。     

Investigation of Arctic and Antarctic spatial and depth patterns of sea water in CTD profiles using chemometric data analysis

In this paper we examine 2- and 3-way chemometric methods for analysis of Arctic and Antarctic water samples. Standard CTD (conductivity–temperature–depth) sensor devices were used during two oceanographic expeditions (July 2007 in the Arctic; February 2009 in the Antarctic) covering a total of 174 locations. The output from these devices can be arranged in a 3-way data structure (according to sea water depth, measured variables, and geographical location). We used and compared 2- and 3-way statistical tools including PCA, PARAFAC, PLS, and N-PLS for exploratory analysis, spatial patterns discovery and calibration. Particular importance was given to the correlation and possible prediction of fluorescence from other physical variables. MATLAB's mapping toolbox was used for geo-referencing and visualization of the results. We conclude that: 1) PCA and PARAFAC models were able to describe data in a satisfactory way, but PARAFAC results were easier to interpret; 2) applying a 2-way model to 3-way data raises the risk of flattening the covariance structure of the data and losing information; 3) the distinction between Arctic and Antarctic seas was revealed mostly by PC1, relating to the physico-chemical properties of the water samples; and 4) we confirm the ability to predict fluorescence values from physical measurements when the 3-way data structure is used in N-way PLS regression.     

Swelter in the city: Urban greenery and its effects on temperature in Guwahati,India

Changing urban landscape with multistoried high rises, roads and pavements is continuously reducing urban green space. These structures result in high surface temperature variation within cities. To explore the relationship between surface temperature and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), this study estimates two models—geographically weighted regression (GWR) and a fixed effect panel data model in relation to the Guwahati Metropolitan Area (GMA), a secondary city in north east India. The results indicate the superiority of GWR regression in presence of spatial dependence. Panel data analysis shows that the densely populated urban areas in the GMA with less than 10 per cent greenery are 1°C warmer than the sub-urban areas with 50 per cent greenery.     

Automated landslide mapping using spectral analysis and high-resolution topographic data: Puget Sound lowlands, Washington, and Portland Hills, Oregon

Landslide inventory maps are necessary for assessing landslide hazards and addressing the role slope stability plays in landscape evolution over geologic timescales. However, landslide inventory maps produced with traditional methods — aerial photograph interpretation, topographic map analysis, and field inspection — are often subjective and incomplete. The increasing availability of high-resolution topographic data acquired via airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) over broad swaths of terrain invites new, automated landslide mapping procedures. We present two methods of spectral analysis that utilize LiDAR-derived digital elevation models of the Puget Sound lowlands, Washington, and the Tualatin Mountains, Oregon, to quantify and automatically map the topographic signatures of deep-seated landslides. Power spectra produced using the two-dimensional discrete Fourier transform and the two-dimensional continuous wavelet transform identify the characteristic spatial frequencies of deep-seated landslide morphologic features such as hummocky topography, scarps, and displaced blocks of material. Spatial patterns in the amount of spectral power concentrated in these characteristic frequency bands highlight past slope instabilities and allow the delineation of landslide terrain. When calibrated by comparison with detailed, independently compiled landslide inventory maps, our algorithms correctly classify an average of 82% of the terrain in our five study areas. Spectral analysis also allows the creation of dominant wavelength maps, which prove useful in analyzing meter-scale topographic expressions of landslide mechanics, past landslide activity, and landslide-modifying geomorphic processes. These results suggest that our automated landslide mapping methods can create accurate landslide maps and serve as effective, objective, and efficient tools for digital terrain analysis.